Take to the busy streets of Berlin, Germany, on an impressively realistic 1:1 scale, transporting city folk from destination to destination on custom-designed routes that hit all of the vibrant districts, tourist attractions, and popular landmarks along the way. With incredibly high-resolution visuals, players will get an immersive and realistic “public transportation” experience, all from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

The Bus’ massive, meticulously detailed in-game map allows players to edit lines and routes, timetables, tours, and more. Board and deboard passengers, oversee ticket sales, and maneuver through AI-controlled traffic that features a variety of vehicles, pedestrians, and complex traffic light routines. With the “Free Movement” feature, players can even explore the world “on foot” and walk freely inside of their busses. Dynamic weather patterns make for unpredictable workdays, while the full day and night cycle crank the immersion up to a whole new level.

In The Bus, you build and customize a fleet of meticulously detailed public transport busses and plan transport routes. You are fully in control of which vibrant districts, tourist hot spots, and city landmarks you want to pass along the way! Along with all of the usual specific simulation must-haves, The Bus will introduce true multiplayer gameplay, something unique to the genre.

The Bus is coming to via Steam Early Access on March 25, 2021.

As part of The Bus’ Early Access phase, developer TML Studios has announced a development plan broken down into three main phases, the first beginning with the Early Access launch that includes the basic build of the game. Phase two will introduce multiplayer mode, bus lines 100 and 200, additional bus models and variants, and a freely drivable area between the main station and Potsdamer Platz with Tiergarten included, and other features. Phase three will add extensive modding tools, a deep economic system that allows for complete management of a player’s bus company, the final bus line 245, and the original bus depot in Indira-Gandhi-Straße. Working directly with feedback from the community during Early Access, TML Studios aims to develop a true fan-inspired gameplay experience that bridges the gap between immersive simulation and co-op multiplayer. 

Early Access Special Features Currently Include: 

• Three Modes: Realistic Campaign, Arcade, and Custom
• Mouse support for convenient driving control with simple keyboard and mouse setup
• Supports many gaming steering wheels with or without pedals
• Supports Tobii Eye Tracking and TrackIR
• “Photo Mode” allows for high quality, UI-free screenshots 
• Two integrated web radio channels: DoubleBass.FM and FlashBass.FM

Key Features:

• Berlin as You’ve Never Seen It: The Bus brings Berlin to life in a beautiful and accurate 1:1 representation of some of the city’s most popular sports, like world-famous Potsdamer Platz and Tiergarten
• Take a Hike: Need a break from the wheel? Feel free to hop off the bus and tour the city on foot with the “Free Movement” feature!
• No Road Rage Allowed: A dynamic AI powers the traffic, lights, pedestrians, and slew of other drivers on the road, offering a realistic driving experience on those wonderfully maintained German roads
• Neither Snow Nor Rain Nor Heat Nor Gloom: A full day and night cycle along with ever-changing weather conditions ensures a simulated experience that rivals the real thing, so get those wipers ready
• Play How You Want: The Bus allows players to pilot their land-yacht with classic keyboard+mouse controls as well as support for most driving wheel accessories — pedals or not